Barlow's Brown helps preserve win over hand

Updated 10:19 am, Friday, May 17, 2013

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's #1 Liam Rooney shoots from between Daniel Hand High School's #20 Matt Oman and #8 Ryan Gabriele during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013. less

Joel Barlow's #1 Liam Rooney shoots from between Daniel Hand High School's #20 Matt Oman and #8 Ryan Gabriele during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May ... more

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's #23 Jack Shaban works his way upfield while being defended by Daniel Hand High School's #14 Clay Lenahan and #29 Taylor Houghton during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, April 16th, 2013. less

Joel Barlow's #23 Jack Shaban works his way upfield while being defended by Daniel Hand High School's #14 Clay Lenahan and #29 Taylor Houghton during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in ... more

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's #34 Steve Miller shoots while under pressure from Daniel Hand High School's David Strupp during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's #34 Steve Miller shoots while under pressure from Daniel Hand High School's David Strupp during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's #7 Alex Lockwood moves towards the goal while Daniel Hand High School's Clay Lenahan defends, during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013. less

Joel Barlow's #7 Alex Lockwood moves towards the goal while Daniel Hand High School's Clay Lenahan defends, during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, ... more

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's Steve Miller defends Daniel Hand High School's Berkley Stone during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's Steve Miller defends Daniel Hand High School's Berkley Stone during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's #27 Harry Wilson goes by Daniel Hand High School's #33 Mike Marino during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's #27 Harry Wilson goes by Daniel Hand High School's #33 Mike Marino during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's Jarrett Gray defends Daniel Hand High School's Reid Sweitzer during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's Jarrett Gray defends Daniel Hand High School's Reid Sweitzer during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's Zach Pompea and Daniel Hand High School's Matt Oman during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's Zach Pompea and Daniel Hand High School's Matt Oman during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Daniel Hand High School's David Strupp and Joel Barlow's Liam Rooney during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Daniel Hand High School's David Strupp and Joel Barlow's Liam Rooney during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's jack Shaban and Daniel Hand High School's Tim Farmer during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's jack Shaban and Daniel Hand High School's Tim Farmer during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's Liam Rooney and Daniel Hand High School's David Strupp during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's Liam Rooney and Daniel Hand High School's David Strupp during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Joel Barlow's Jack Shaban and Daniel Hand High School's Taylor Houghton during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Joel Barlow's Jack Shaban and Daniel Hand High School's Taylor Houghton during a boys varsity lacrosse game at Joel Barlow High school in Redding, Conn, on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Photo: H John Voorhees III

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Barlow's Brown helps preserve win over hand

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REDDING -- When the ball bounced around the front of the Barlow net, when Hand's top lacrosse attackmen slipped away from the Falcons' defense, senior goalie Cooper Brown was there.

"He played well. He had a very good game, thank God," Barlow coach John Distler said with a smile after the Falcons' 9-4 win Thursday in the regular-season finale.

"There were a couple of point-blank shots I thought were going to be goals."

Brown made 11 saves, keeping the Tigers from getting even as No. 6 Barlow finished the regular season 15-1, perfect in 14 games in-state.

The Falcons played fierce early defense and protected the ball with patience to build a 7-2 lead early in the second half.

"We just played really tight defense," Brown said. "We shut down their best attackman, No. 28 (Will Reynolds). Conn Curry did a great job against him."

"We always want to set the tone coming out in the first quarter," Brown said. "We're not going to be intimidated. We want to show we're the better team."

They were, though Hand (10-6), one of 15 teams to receive a vote in the state poll this week, tied it at 1 on Reynolds' goal spinning to the front of the net 2:52 into the game.

But Liam Rooney had a hat trick by the end of the first quarter (two of the goals assisted by Max Cammarota). Jack Shaban matched him by the end of the half and tacked on a fourth to start the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Brown had gotten busy. He made three big saves in the second and four more in the third. He stoned Matt Sullivan as the ball popped free in front of the net in the second quarter. He shrugged away Bryan McManus' clean shot a few minutes later.

In the fourth, he came out to challenge Tyler Kilkenny, making one more big save.

"I really like to explode to the ball," Brown said. "I'm a big guy (6-4, 181). I want to use my size."

Those saves were crucial as the Tigers cut Barlow's lead to 7-4 after three.

"I really thought we'd keep the intensity up," Distler said. "We got a little flat after halftime, and I'm not sure why. But it was enough to win, which is good."

Hand's best chance to change the momentum might have been Brown's clear at the end of the third quarter. He carried the ball toward the front of the Hand net before it was knocked away. Reynolds rushed it back to the Barlow end, carried toward the front of the net and fired it over the cage with 21.5 seconds left.

Cammarota and Josh Tunick scored in the fourth to rebuild the five-goal lead.

The Falcons are the top seed in the SWC tournament. They'll face either New Milford or Brookfield in the semifinals on Tuesday night at 7 at Newtown. By the end of next week, they'll be focused on the state tournament and defending their title.

Are they about where Distler wants them to be as they reach the playoffs? "I think we're getting there," he said.